The following picture accompanies the story titled “Women in Science” in this week’s C&E News (Nov. 27th, p. 34):

I bet the layout editor was quite pleased with himself after picking this image out of the database:  Woman doing science?  Check.  Obligatory chemistry glassware?  Check.  Pretty colors? Check.

Now, what the hell is she going to do with all of these solutions?  Isn’t it a little early to be dyeing Easter eggs? Anyway, while admiring this “scientist” doing “research,” I noticed something truly disturbing. Take a closer look and see if you see it too…

If you said that the solution exceeds the fill mark in more than a few of the volumetric flasks, you’re right.  For some of them it’s not even close:  

I might have been able to overlook this error in any old news magazine, but this is C&E freakin’ News.  For goodness sakes, Mr. Baum, every person who reads your publication is a chemist.  We know how to use volumetric flasks.  This photograph is offensive and it is unfortunate that you placed it in a story on women in science.  How dare you.